Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne has revealed five AFL performances from Round 1 that have flown under the radar, using their rating system.
Hoyne explained that Champion Data’s rankings value impact above volume necessarily and punishes mistakes.
See his five players from the weekend below:
Tom Mitchell (Collingwood)
“Tom Mitchell didn’t get a coaches vote in his game against Geelong on the weekend and we had him as the second highest rated player on the ground,” Hoyne told SEN’s Sportsday.
“Despite only finishing with 21 disposals, it was all high impact, which I don’t think we’ve said about Tom Mitchell for quite a while.
“He had 14 contested possessions, 10 clearances and two goals. That was the ninth highest rated game of his career. He’s played a lot of footy. His eight highest rated games above that one, he had 32 disposals or more in all of them.
“Craig McRae told us we would see a different Tom Mitchell. One game in and we’ve already seen a different Tom Mitchell.”
Liam Ryan (West Coast)
“He no doubt changed the game for West Coast in that third quarter – he was the third highest rated player on the ground.”
“His last 45 minutes when they came back from almost six goals down, he had eight disposals, six of them led to scores and three goals.”
Junior Rioli (Port Adelaide)
“We had him as the highest rated player on the ground. Our rating system is looking at impact on matches, not volume necessarily and punishes poor ball use.”
“He was the number one rated player on the ground despite only 16 disposals, but 14 of them were won in the forward half of the ground. He wins it in dangerous positions. Eight score involvements and three goals.”
Kane Cornes agrees, adding: “I gave him votes.”
Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs)
“The one I just wanted to raise is Ed Richards. Yes they lost by 50 points, but his game was second to only Max Gawn on the weekend.”
“He had 16 intercept possessions. That’s the most ever by a Bulldogs player. He won 13 at ground level. He probably got missed because he’s not winning that clean intercept mark.
“He won 13 at ground level. To put that into context. That’s the equal most ever by any player we have recorded.”
Mason Wood (St Kilda)
“I think he got the one coaches vote. We had him as the highest rated player for St Kilda. Low scoring game, seven score involvements, two goals, high impact from Mason Wood.”
HOYNE’S GEM
“Lewis Young. Since the bye last year, he’s number two for intercept possessions.”
“Only Sam Taylor is ahead of him and he was an All-Australian last year. Something to keep an eye on.
“He shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.”
HOYNE’S HORROR
“West Coast. Their ball movement has been horrific since they won the flag in 2018.”
“They had a point of difference in 2018. They probably surprised the competition. It hasn’t really changed since. It was the worst ball movement season on record in 2022 (their ability to from defensive 50 to inside 50). It was the worst season we’ve seen in that aspect on record.
“The way that it’s started against North Melbourne, who last year were the easiest team in the competition to move the ball against, was again poor.
“They again struggled to move the ball and something has got to give at West Coast to be able to keep up with what’s happening across the competition.”